Figure 2.

 Effects of antidepressants on global improvement in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Odds ratio (OR) and associated 95% confidence interval (CI ) for each study are plotted on a logarithmic scale. Box sizes are proportional to the study’s weight in the analysis, based on study size and variance. Diamonds represents the point estimate and 95% CI for the pooled data. Open boxes represent low quality studies (quality score <3); closed boxes represent high quality studies (quality score >3). Open diamonds represent the point estimate of all studies (high and low quality); closed diamonds represent the point estimate of high quality studies only. Quality score (QS): double blind study (yes 1, no 0); sufficient number of subjects (yes 1, no 0); crossover (0) or parallel design (1); adequate definition of IBS symptoms (yes 1, no 0); presence (1) or absence (0) of intention to treat analysis. Modified from Lesbros-Pantoflickova and colleagues.⁵⁰ Citations for the individual studies listed in the figure are provided in the original report.⁵⁰